Thompson's woolly locoweed

Description:

Astragalus mollissimus var. thompsoniae. Note the pilose hairs on the forming pods. The banners are somewhat recurved. The scapose peduncles are also a key character. The pink-purple flower color seems to be quite consistent within this species. The lighting due to the setting sun caused the flower color to be more vibrant than is typically seen, although it could also be that there is an ecotype in the Uinta Basin that is somewhat different since the plants seem to display some other characteristics that differ somewhat as well.May 28, 2011, Duchesne County, Utah, approx, 5,540 ft. elev.